Thursday, at the computer sleeping....

     So tired.  I feel like going back to bed.  Just got out of the bath tub and have already had 2 people here and a third on the way.  Okay 3 people.  Even if I wanted to go back to bed I couldn't:)  When I get too much to do I often get sleepy.  I think it is my way of trying to avoid my responsibilities.  It also could be because I am just plain old tired?   Nah, that couldn't be it. (sarcasm)

     Took hubby to get his meds last night and bought a few groceries.  We are having Thanksgiving at his parents and when I saw the prices I was glad I won't have to be buying the fixings for dinner.  Everything is so high.  I don't think 99 cents a lb is a good price for turkey.  I also think 89 cents a lb for celery is ridiculous.   So gas down and back and adding a dish or too will be a cheap Thanksgiving. 

     I will be too busy to put up the tree until after the 14th of December and because we will be going to daughters in Twin Falls I thought well maybe I won't decorate this year.  We will see.  I can't imagine not putting up a tree, but if we are not celebrating here, why go to all the extra work.  I am turning into the Grinch.

     Okay 4, I mean 5  people have been here and I have only been open an hour.  Another thing to be Thankful for, my busy business.   I also just ran down the stairs, to me that is such a miracle.

Cont: 

     Sis and I had several friends in the neighborhood.  The Vons(for short)  had moved into the basement apartment next to us so we played a lot with Marty and Marvel.  I could not figure out why they moved and their apartment was so small and dark.  But we over heard adult conversations that both the Von parents drank.  I never saw Mr. Von he was always in bed.  I had heard of his terrible temper but his older kids were always getting into trouble.  It was kind of like Payton place living next to them.  I know my mom tried to help the kids and she tried to stay close to Mrs. Von. 

     We were also close friends with a couple down the street named Orville and Orlene.  They were both older big heavy set people.  They had two little girls one our age and one lil sis's age.  We all became fast friends.  Orville was a butcher.  Mom would go down to his shop and get chicken gizzards free.  I loved chicken gizzards.  Maybe that is why my cholesterol is so high now. Janelle was their daughter who was our age.  We did not walk to school with any of these children so I believe they all went to the Catholic Schools.  Janelle was mouthy and spoiled.  I remember her running from her dad and he could not catch her.  He was so big ad heavy and she could out run him.  We had so much fun at their house.  Orlene was always cooking something and she was so nice and friendly. Sis and I sometimes would stay the night at Janelle's house.  I don't remember her staying at ours.

     I made friends with a little girl who lived in the third story apartment behind out house.  Her name was Nora.  I was allowed to go into her apartment to play.  I believe her parents were students and worked.  She had a little sister and a full time sitter.  Her apartment was so clean and perfect.  Everything had a place and even her toys were put away in a specific order.  I found this amazing.  I really liked going over there.  I am sure after a few days Sis wanted to join us, but the rule was one friend at a time.  So Sis and lil sis stood outside the window down on the ground (2 stories) and cried at the top of their lungs.  I was asked to leave because the babysitter said the noise would wake up the baby.  Sis was not going to let me have a friend without her.  I remember being really irritated with her.

     We spent many hours down at the community center.  They had crafts and we learned to braid lanyards.  I think now of how young we were and how really hard it is to get a perfect braid, but we all could do it.  All the neighborhood kids were braiding lanyards to wear around our necks or as key chains.  We also swam in the summer.  Sometimes we would walk to the pool, but only with older kids.  We would wrap our swimsuits in a towel.  Sis and I had little blue two piece swim suits.  One time I got to the pool and my bottoms were gone .  So I just wore my under wear as a bottom.  I was so embarrassed.  I would not get out of the baby pool.  We just played in the kiddie pool, as we had not learned to swim yet and we were to short for the adult pool.  We would walk home and dad or mom would come to pick us up on the way.  We had to walk down a particular street so they could find us.

     We had so much freedom as a children.  I look back and we ran around all the time.  I remember checking in with the housekeeper and taking off again.  I know kids cannot do this today.  What happened?  We would make mud pies in the garage and dad would come home and pretend to eat them.  We spent hours swinging in the back yard.  I loved to swing clear up until I was married.  Sis also liked to swing we would do this and make up stories about our lives.  We had vivid imaginations.

     Now we would enter first grade.  I will never forget the first day and they divided up our group.  I did not want the old teacher, I wanted the new beautiful teacher with the beehive hairdo and the Jackie O dress.  But as luck would have it Sis got the pretty teacher.  I was so mad.  I would not let go of Sis.  I was determined to go with her to that class.  I remember my mom trying to reason with me and pulling me and finally the principal separated us and drug me to my classroom screaming all the way.  The adults thought is was because I did not want to be away from Sis and they all sympathized but really I wanted the pretty teacher and I was furious that Sis had beat me out.

     First grade was boring.  I went but I did not like school.  It was also the year that I had the hard German measles and almost died.  I had the chicken pox and I had the mumps on both sides at different times.  The weather was also particularly bad that year.  Record snow fall, cold, and record tornadoes.  Chaos all the time.  We also had to take our lunch to school and I constantly broke my thermos.  Life was just starting to get tough on me.  Sis was quite the drama queen and she was in trouble in school a lot.  I think actually I know it was because she was bored.  We both were reading way beyond our grade level and had memorized our math tables.  Dad would play games with us in mental math to see if he could stump us.  He also would bring home really hard words from the newspaper to see if we could pronounce them and then we would look up the meaning of the word.  When dad was around he was very hands on, always showing or doing or playing with us.  He would not tell you what a whirlpool was he would take you to the bathtub and fill it with water and have you watch and explain a whirlpool.  Always he would explain.  In the mean time we were sitting next to kids who were trying to sound out, " Oh see Dick", poorly and SLOWLY.  I thought I would explode I was so frustrated.  I think Sis really let her frustration show and this made her the naughty twin.

 Cont:

      Out My Window: It really froze last night.  I had to take the chicken out some water.

     Need to to call Mother-in-law and get to work!

Have a great and productive day.

Kim